Rally for Change
April 30, 2011
  • external image quote-open.jpg Everybody can be great... because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. you only need a heart full of grace. a soul generated by love. external image quote-close.jpg King Jr. Martin Luther

May 3, 2011

  • We decided what part the kids will say - Julie will work with them tomorrow and Thursday.
  • Discussion about when we give tickets - we are giving 12 high, 30 middle and and the rest low.
  • Del will direct people to fill out the K and W of the chart and then as people are milling around, Julie welcomes them. Mark and Del will be counting tickets and getting them ready while Julie speaks.
  • (We are putting a big reserved sign on the High Income table so people do not sit there.)
  • When ready, Julie will announce the drawing of the tickets. Del and Mark will take ticket buckets around.
  • Julie will direct people where to sit by color, and then introduce Alyssa and Heidi as Masters of Ceremony.
  • Bottom of page 11 will be said right before people eat.

May 2, 2011



Alyssa HW: When people first come in - fill out a large KW chart, and then the L can be part of their reflection.
Julie: Globe and info on the research for the audience -
Julie: Buy a dozen rolls AND BUTTER for Thursday.
Mark: Will take responsibility for tickets and drawing that night. Alyssa suggested colors so people don't know. Mark will keep a tally of how many people are participating and then do the tickets by the percentages.
Julie: Welcome people, introduce the hunger research project and say how the banquet came out of that. Show the map that directs people where to sit.
All ELA teachers: each kid type his/her research question on ONE keynote slide in the default font and get to Julie
Decided: We ARE calling it an Oxfam Hunger Banquet, so we will take donations and send it to them.
Decided: Put Heidi's Oxfam video on a loop on the screen during the intro time.
Beth volunteered to be the AV person - walking mikes, lapel mikes, microphones
Beth HW: She will look for something we could play during dinner.
Beth: Will make a slide of the map of the gym so people will know where to sit.
Mark suggested poverty.org
Master of Ceremonies: Alyssa and Heidi - thank you! Heidi will make a slide show with talking points.
Steph: Kids' names on the program
Beth's point is that parents NEED the introduction because they really don't know what this is about.
Heidi - We should dress very plainly - muted colors.
Under 5th grade you eat with a parent.
Map of the gym (8 per long table) - Steph has a banquet floor plan
(Double tables for the high end meals "head table") front and near emergency doors for ventilation
(Long tables end to end for middle income) Near Mr. Cox office
(Floor in the back for the Low income) To avoid foot traffic
Del - Directing and assisting with KW charts (on the wall of Mr. Cox's office to avoid foot traffic for the low income floor group)
Beth - Check for table cloth for the upper class

May 1, 2011

Here is the template for citing media sources for the hunger media projects.

music
McLachlan, Sarah. “Angel.” Surfacing. 1997.

Performer. “Name of Song.” Album. Date of recording.

video
TheIRC. “Darfur Children.” 29 Nov 2009. Online Video Clip. YouTube.
Brandtschneider. “Darfur Genocide.” 12 April 2007. Online Video Clip. TeacherTube.


Username of person who uploaded video. "Title of the video." Date video was uploaded. Online Video Clip. Website video was retrieved from.

image
Photo_verybig_107201. Retrieved from http://www.novinite.com/ on April 2011.

Name of the image when saved to the computer. Retrieved from url of website on date image was downloaded.







APRIL 27, 2011

  • Discussed who is responsible for checking that kids have not downloaded music illegally. Beth is taking this on - THANK YOU BETH.
  • Discussed how kids should cite sources - videos, images and music - for their Call to Action multi-media projects. Again, Beth has said she would come up with a template for kids to use for their citations, give it out in her classes, and put it on the wiki. THANK YOU BETH AGAIN.
  • We don't need a map of the games (kids asked for this because last year because kids were crowding each other out and taking up too much space. We think we do not need a map, since we have fewer games this year. However, we do need one or two adults to "place" kids around the gym and mark off how much space they can take.
  • Discussed what time to arrive for the Fun Day. Adults: 10:00 and kids 10:30.
  • We filled out the Service Learning Sheet for Michelle.
  • Steph will ask Joanie Mulligan if she wants to run the concession stand with Beth for us, as Kris Mac has another obligation.
  • Julie will buy red hot dogs, flat rolls, mustard, ketchup and relish, and water and snack sized baggies, and little paper bags.
  • Beth will ask the cafeteria for plastic gloves and ask Genia where we get the steamer.
  • We discussed that the Fun Day/Rally is not really a service learning project - we designed it way back before we really had a handle on service learning, and we have always felt guilty that we have taken service learning money. We are talking about having it go away next year - there is also a culture of service that is developing in RSU 67, so the What is Service? unit and PENCorps is not as needed as it was 3 years ago.
  • Someone needs to design an exit slip/reflection for the hunger banquet so we can collect quotes. Also if everyone can look at the Oxfam website and find the section that has the maps and the protocol for the speakers, that would be great. We ALL need to decide what is going to be said, who the Master/Mistress of Ceremonies will be, etc. Julie will work with the kids and practice with them next week, but she does not want to be the only one making these decisions.

APRIL 13, 2011
Present: Mark, Heidi, Steph, Della, Beth, Alyssa
  • Beth is in the process of creating a multimedia example for 8th graders based on Julie's Call to Action for Darfur
  • She is finding it hardest to find video, photos and music
  • In class she is letting students look for media, she is encouraging kids to use iMovie, but they are also able to use Keynote
  • Let's remind kids to bring back their Oxfam slips
  • Heidi will put together a flier and get it to Ella Burr in time for them to be sent home with students on Friday-Done
  • Alyssa will email staff asking for their help supplying concessions, and if anyone would be willing to run the concessions-Done
  • Let's invite the staff to their Oxfam dinner
  • Should we have a vegetarian Lasagna as well?
  • Mark will be responsible for inviting the staff to the banquet and asking staff to volunteer
  • Della will keep track of volunteers
  • Alyssa will email Larry and Anita to find out about a janitor for KFD-Done-Larry will find coverage, we do not need to worry about it
  • We would like to use classrooms on the first floor for displaying the media projects


APRIL 6, 2011
Present: Mark, Steph, Julie, Alyssa, Della, Heidi
  • We need to get the invitations to the OxFam Banquet out ! Hopefully hand them out Friday and have them due the following Friday (before April break).
  • Julie talked with Lucretia and she said everything was fine with her.... she needs to know numbers 2 weeks ahead of time.
  • We should ask kids to apply to be guest speakers for the banquet and we will let them know there are scripted pieces.
  • Julie homework: Application for being a guest speaker.
  • We should do a smartboard notebook about OxFam to introduce the organization and what they do... then maybe the kids will say, " We should do that!" or maybe they won't ... but still.
  • The prizes are ordered and they might be here already!
  • Del's kids have started their games, Julie and Steph's kids have brainstormed.
  • We will have a lottery where kids propose a game and put their group's name in with other groups who have similar games, to increase the variety of games.
  • Where should we set up the computers? We also talked about having some of the better presentations playing on the wall while everyone is eating.
  • ELA is having the students do a "call to action" speech and needs to find a good model. (Maybe a celebrity?)
  • Social Studies will introduce the Hunger Banquet! They will give out the invitations and guest speaker applications : )
  • The applications will be due along with the invitations on April 15th ( Friday before break).


MARCH 29, 2011
Present: Mark, Steph, Julie, Alyssa
  • Alyssa Homework-Order Prized for KFD
  • Steph Homework-Create a program for the night
  • We decided the banquet would start at 5:30 and end at 7:30
  • We finished the invite. Alyssa is going to give Anita a copy for her to look over.

MARCH 23, 2011
Present: Della, Steph, Mark, Heidi, Alyssa, Julie
  • Oxfam dinner-May 5th, we people to procure the food, and cook the food
  • Should we ask the region III chef if they would be interested in providing the cooking? Or should we ask our kitchen? Del?
  • We will also need an MC and a speaker(s)-Let's look to kids for this! It could be part of their civic action plan
  • We also need an invitation with a clear RSVP date-Alyssa is willing to do this
  • Do we treat students and parents as individuals or have them eat as a family?
  • This is the night we will have kids show their presentations, we think we should group kids by topic
  • "Classes" should be separated in some fashion, not side by side
  • Can Anita think of people at UMaine that could be a guest speaker? Someone who has serve in the PeaceCorps or AmeriCorps?
  • We can have a gallery walk, or a rank and order
  • We could quizzes on hunger during the eating time
  • Oxfam provides a script that we could split up between students
  • What about separating ticket holders out by continent?
  • Homework-Everybody will look at the Oxfam script and decided if we want to use it as is or edit some out (it is quite lengthy)
  • Donations-Last year we gave half to Haiti and half to the food cupboard-Kids are all over the place with where they want to give this year (landmines, Japan, etc). Maybe we could sponsor a child

  • Next meeting March 30th after school

MARCH 22, 2011
Present: Della, Julie, Heidi, Alyssa
  • If we need a snow date (and WE HAD BETTER NOT) it will be May 7th
  • Heidi volunteered to get information on creating multi-media presentations.
  • Beth will be getting kids onto ExpertSpace tomorrow, March 23rd
  • We did not feel that we had enough of the group to move forward. Please let us know when you can't be here asap so we know if we should postpone.
  • The more models we can give kids of multimedia projects, the more students will have to see and pick from
  • Don't forget about the resources Heidi shared in the discussion of this wiki, lets all look at these
  • We ended the meeting at 3:10 and hope we can all be here tomorrow to resume our conversation

MARCH 15, 2011 next meeting March 22nd
  • We need to decide on a time for the Fun Day. Also check on the snow date.
  • Mark and Heidi really like the Oxfam Dinner idea - we were concerned because we have not budgeted for this - Mark's suggestion was to sell tickets. And we definitely need to let people know up front that they might end up eating rice.
  • Mark brought up the concern that kids might not want to put in the effort to attend both - and we need the Fun Day to work because we are inviting the public.
  • Also, we are cutting our number of games in half because we didn't invite 7th grade.
  • Mark had ANOTHER good idea - could we do the Oxfam Night AFTER the Fun Day - maybe a week later? If you come to the Fun Day you get free admission?
  • Heidi's awesome idea was to offer incentives for attendance - a free homework ticket or a drawing for a charity of your choice.
  • Fun Day times: Our kids come at 10:00 and the public from 11:00 to 1:00.
  • Homework: Julie will email Donna about possible funding for the Oxfam Dinner. Mark will ask Anita if it would be ok with administration and what support she might like to give if we go through with it this year.

MARCH 1, 2011 NEXT MEETING MARCH 8
Present: Heidi, Alyssa, Beth, Julie
  • Decide on and order prizes. Any volunteers?
  • Do we want to write up a fact sheet for the games for Fun Day, for kids to follow? For the past two years we have used the "carrot" of having them complete their research project before they could begin their game. Last year that almost backfired because we ran out of time. So maybe if they start now, and work outside of class, with Sarah and Flo's help, things will run more smoothly?
  • We can encourage kids to go to Art Club any time Sarah has it so start to work on their games, after the fact sheet comes out.
  • Beth brought us a copyright chart that includes music. She also has found some websites that will be easy for students to download songs from, but she is puzzled about who actually owns the songs - she is still researching. We really need to be good role models for kids here - the fine print says "The material must be legitimately acquired (a legal copy, not bootleg or home recording)
  • Heidi said we can give kids the choice - popular songs 10% or creative commons songs 100%.
  • Beth has purchased individual songs for kids with her own money, as an alternative.
  • Tandberg websites: http://www.livec.org/
    http://www.livec.org/Classroom-Content.aspx
    http://cilc.org/c/community/collaboration_center.aspx
    http://cilc.org/collaboration_all.aspx
  • Beth says Tandberg and Skype are not compatible. In Clients of Tandberg on the Tandbeg website, there are health care connections that may lead to something useful for kids. Most of these clients probably use the Tandberg for teleconferencing with other hospitals, but they may have an education section. Beth will check with Tandberg on how to acquire collaborative partners.
  • Beth talked about the possibility of an OXFAM Hunger Banquet. She shared that we need to get families into school for more than just basketball games. If we held an OXFAM Hunger Banquet, we could then invite parents to view kids' multi media projects - it would definitely get people to show. We have not budgeted for this: Beth will research cost.
  • Julie started the fact sheet.
  • Heidi and Alyssa picked prizes. Alyssa will get the purchase order and make it happen!


February 16, 2011 NEXT MEETING MARCH 1
Present: Heidi, Alyssa, Del, Stephanie, Julie
  • Steph and Alyssa's kids said could we do more than one Fun Day because they missed. Heidi: Could we do it at Ella Burr?
  • We had talked about separating the research product "showing" from the Fun Day - kids complained because they thought their projects were not as attended to as they should have been. Could we have a night? Heidi suggested grouping kids by their larger global area - by rooms - each room has a theme.
  • We need to order prizes!!
  • Heidi - it would be really cool to get some connections on the Tandberg - don't forget the virtual field trip on March 22.
  • at a Hunger night - could we ring a bell every five seconds to show a child dying of hunger
  • Our big research question really is about combatting the CAUSES of hunger. So a kid who researched landmines as a cause of hunger last year would really be answering: What is being done to combat land mine use and problems, as a cause of hunger in Afghanistan? So they really are branching out well beyond hunger. We need a visual to show this tangled web of hunger causes - it is not merely a lack of food.
  • We are still discussing the music problem - We will make it clear to kids that we can help them get music, but they have to decide on the songs at home. We also have to model paying attention to copyright laws.
  • Homework: Can we all do some homework pulling samples of different ways to present research multi-medially? We can use both of Tracie's videos as models, but are there other videos that would inspire kids?
  • Hoemwork by department: Can we each come up with our version of The Service House for this year, so we can mesh them in time for ELA to build lessons and keep teaching. So far we have just done the intro/hook but we are getting nervous because we need a path to follow to create the rest of the unit.

January 25, 2011
  • We reviewed our last meeting minutes.
  • Julie mentioned utilizing resources that Anita has been handing out-from Kid's Consortium.
  • We would like to have student's move from a PSA to a presentation that includes creativity and a multimedia piece.
  • Beth will research some sites that are copyright free so that we can use music in our presentations.
  • We need to show models of presentations and develop a rubric for their assessments.
  • Part of our assessments should match the mood of the project. Beth mentioned that contemporary lyrical pieces will be hard to incorporate into their presentations -will eat up time, and students will become frustrated.
  • Beth will have students brainstorm lyrics for the students to use.
  • Julie wants us to use some Nobel Peace Prize winners as examples of how people change the world.
  • Beth will check will check with Vanessa about games.
  • We will meet again February 8th.
  • Heidi and Mark will use current events to research the topic as well.
  • ELA will write up a mini lesson to discuss theme, mood and media literacy to our students.
  • What are the characteristics of a "powerful" multi media presentation?

January 24, 2011
  • The ELA hook will be a inductive blind vocablulary sort
    1. NGO
    2. Non Profit Organization
    3. Red Cross
    4. Unicef
    5. Doctors without Borders
    6. PeaceCorps
    7. AmeriCorps
    8. Slum
    9. Corruptions
    10. Refugee
    11. Refugee Camp
    12. Genocide
    13. Clinic
    14. Dictatiorship
    15. Infrastructure
    16. AIDS
    17. Cholera
    18. Vaccine
    19. Pneumonia
    20. Sanitation
    21. Open Sewer
    22. War Lords
    23. Civil War
    24. Militia
    25. Rebel Forces
    26. Child Soldier
    27. Desertification
    28. Flooding
    29. Drought
    30. Tsunami
    31. Monsoon
    32. Hurricane/Typhoon
    33. Slash and Burn
    34. Natural Resources
    35. Philanthropy
    36. Altruism
    37. International Aid
    38. Charity
    39. Civil Servant
    40. Volunteer
    41. Food Insecurity
    42. Malnutrition
    43. United Nations
    44. Activism
    45. Aidworker

January 20, 2011

  • What is being done to alleviate hunger and food insecurity for all people in all regions of the world, and how can I support these efforts?
    • In their voice over, they need to write up an answer for this question while pictures are showing?
  • How are we going to handle music for kids presentations? Beth, any ideas?

January 10, 2011
Present: Julie H., Steph M., Beth B., Della P., Alyssa F.
  • The application has been turned in and approved
  • Our budget this year is:
Picture_1.png
  • ELA will be in charge of the hook, creating the calendar, and teaching vocabulary. Also teaching kids how to do an academic post.
  • Social Studies will be in charge of the civic action plan, supporting with vocabulary, and will also be supporting with research skills and class time to work on research.
  • We found out that virtual partners can serve as community partners - the point is for kids to know that other groups are working on their same issue. Our research question really lends itself to this connection. See Bullet 5 # 3 and 4.
  • 7th grade will NOT be participating this year.

  • Essential/Overarching Questions
  1. Last year's EQ was : What are the causes of hunger for all people in all regions of the world?
  2. Personal research questions that fed into the larger EQ were: How does contribute to hunger or food insecurity for people in the _region of the world?
  3. This year (I don't have it exactly - will edit later): What is being done to combat hunger among all people in all regions of the world?
  4. Personal research questions will be along the lines of How is Group A combatting hunger for People B caused by in Region C. It sounds a little unweildy - maybe we can shorten it or at least have some strong models.
  5. There is a group of 6 girls who are researching Maternal Health instead of hunger: Brianna Fink, Lauren Page, Becca Murray, Dani Macalino, Kendra Thurlow, and Victoria Rideout.

  • The first year we used Moodle as an online teaching tool, this past year we did not. Beth has taken our hook notebook and turned it into a Moodle class! She has included scoring guides for posting.
  • In computer class, Beth had student practicing appropriate posting on forums in Moodle.
  • All of the ELA teachers are into Moodle with usernames and passwords and Beth will make them editing instructors. Heidi and Mark, please see Beth to make sure you are all set.
  • Curriculum parterns?: Vanessa- a few lessons on game design, Sarah- art, Betty- healthy snacks for KFD
  • We would like kids to do a multimedia presentation INSTEAD of a PSA.
  • ELA is trying really hard to have kids create at least one multimedia presentation before they create one for Rally.
  • Because most images of hunger are graphic, we need to teach kids about putting in a disclaimer.
  • Next meeting: Tuesday, January 25th


As of January 14th most 8th grade student has been into Moodle and participated in a forum discussion. I shared with them the requirements for posting included a statement of his/her opinion or reflection and supporting evidence. I will be checking in with Tom about shutting off the message section of Moodle because it is a simple chat-type feature that I don't think we want to monitor.

The scoring rubric I shared included
to be proficient (3) your post & reply must include
  • A statement of your opinion or reflection and
  • One piece of supporting evidence from your background knowledge, readings, current-event readings/discussions, Internet research, or class discussions.

to be advanced (4) your post & reply must include
  • A statement of your opinion or reflection and
  • Evidence that supports up your opinion or reflection from at least 2 different sources
OR
  • Evidence that supports more than one side of the issue.